Lord's Day Sermon
August 2, 2020
The Real Reason Why Jesus Paid Taxes
Sermon Details
Read passage (ESV) — Matthew 17:22-27
Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection
22 As they were gathering[a] in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.
The Temple Tax
24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel.[b] Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
Matthew 17:22 Some manuscripts remained Matthew 17:27 Greek stater, a silver coin worth four drachmas or approximately one shekelCross references
Matthew 17:22 : For ver. 22, 23, see Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45; [ch. 16:21-28; 20:17-19] Matthew 17:23 : See Mark 8:31 Matthew 17:24 : Mark 9:33 Matthew 17:24 : Ex. 30:13; 38:26 Matthew 17:25 : ch. 18:12; 21:28 Matthew 17:25 : ch. 22:17, 19; Mark 12:14; Rom. 13:7Outline
- Jesus Again Announces His ________________ and _________________________ (22-23)
- Christ Jesus Asserts His Supreme ____________________ But Does Not Take ________________________ of It (24-27) Title: “The Real Reason Why Jesus Paid Taxes” Text: Matthew 17:22-27 Theme: Jesus reinforced His lordship and His status as the unique Son of God. Yet, Jesus paid the tax even though He had no real obligation to do so. Christ has freed us also, but the time is not yet right for us to dispense with such obligations and to assert our personal privileges at the expense of serving others.
- Applications A. We should ________________ that it took the ________________ of the only begotten Son of God to ______________________ the turmoil and ugliness that our _____________ has wrought. B. Christ Jesus always _____________________ you of His _________________ standing and ______________________. C. We _________________________ our personal __________________________ to serve and minister to others. Q u e s t i o n s t o D i s c u s s a t H o m e o r i n S m a l l G r o u p s 1. Where were Jesus and His disciples meeting (v. 22a)? 2. What did Jesus say was going to happen to Him (vv. 22b-23a)? 3. How did the disciples react to this news (v. 23b)? 4. In what city did Jesus and the disciples gather (v. 24a)? 5. Who came to where Jesus and His disciples were staying? What did they want? Whom did they ask (v. 24)? 6. What was Peter’s answer to their question (v. 25a)? 7. What did Jesus ask Peter when he went into the house (v. 25b)? 8. What was Peter’s answer (v. 26a)? 9. What was Jesus’ point (v. 26b)? 10. Did Jesus pay the tax? How? (v. 27)? 11. Why do you think the disciples were terribly grieved when Jesus told them He would die and be raised? 12. Why was the death of Jesus necessary? In view of the fact that Jesus rose from the dead, can we in any sense grieve over His death? 13. Should God be subject to His own laws? Why or why not? 14. How does Christ remind and impress upon you His royal person and dignity? How might this be seen in worship? 15. At times Jesus did not hesitate to offend others (Matt. 15:12; 23:1-36). Why do you suppose He did not want to give offense in this instance? 16. What rights and privileges might you be wise at the present time to re- linquish in order to serve someone else? Next Week Read: Matthew 18:1-5